UNITED
NATIONS,
January 21 --
What does
today's UN do
to protect its
staff? Inner
City Press has
recently been
informed by
staff and
reported that
local
employees of
the UN
Peacekeeping
mission in
South Sudan
are no longer
told of
dangers to
them in
Situation
Reports (see
below0). Now
it is reported
that 51 UN
personnel were
deliberated
killed in
2015,
including:

"Among those
killed were 27
peacekeepers,
including two
police
officers, and
24 civilians,
including
contractors,
in deliberate
attacks using
improvised
explosive
devices,
rocket and
artillery
fire, mortar
rounds,
landmines,
grenades,
suicide
attacks,
targeted
assassinations
and armed
ambushes. Not
included in
the total are
friendly-fire
incidents. For
the second
year in a row,
the greatest
loss of life
had been
recorded in
Mali where at
least 25
personnel,
including 11
peacekeepers
and 14
civilians and
associated
personnel,
were killed...
For the second
year in a row,
South Sudan
topped the
list of
countries
where the
highest number
of staff had
been either
detained or
abducted or
disappeared,
four of whom
(one staff
member from
2014) have now
been presumed
no longer
alive...

In the UN's
continued
withholding of
news and
answers about
South Sudan,
the reports of
the UN's own
knowledge of
abuses are now
being withheld
from its own
impacted
national
staff.
So Inner City
Press is
publishing
this, from
earlier today
January 21,
inside UNMISS:

"at around
1040 am heavy
fighting broke
out in Yambio
Town, details
are unclear at
this moment;
according to
earlier
reports the
SPLA Commandos
at around 0530
am launched an
operation
against the
Arrow Boys arm
under the SSLM
located in the
Birisi area of
Yambio
township, the
group in turn
entered Yambio
town and
launched
attack against
the SPLA
causing
citizens to
flee in
panic.
Once the heavy
shooting
started a
number of
civilians
around (40)
forced their
way into the
UNMISS camp as
vehicles were
being
processed at
the main gate.
They have
since moved to
the ADRA
compound.

The Rwanbatt
have now taken
control of the
main entrance
and the
citizens whom
entered the
compound have
now moved to
the adjoining
ADRA compound.
Alert status
“WHITE” has
been declared
for Yambio
town until
further
notice.

Point of note;
the Arrow Boys
under the SSLM
are currently
in peace
negotiations
with the
government."

Then,
this UNMISS
update:

"After
shooting
occurred in
the early
hours of the
morning around
0530 hours; at
0830 hours the
SPLA Commandos
lunched
operations
against the
Arrow Boys
located in the
areas of
Birisi,
Gangura,
Yambio
stadium, and
the general
areas of the
Power Station
and
surrounding
communities
north east of
UNMISS
compound. A
number of
locals have
taken refuge
in the ADRA
compound."

For all
the UN
bragging it's
ADRA doing the
sheltering.
From further
inside UNMISS,
from Inner
City Press'
sources:

"The Commandos
attacked the
arrow boys
with whom they
signed the
peace
agreement
early this
morning, and
they engaged
in battle at
Uze river, the
commandos have
proceeded to
Birisi, now
the arrow boys
have broken
the bridge
keeping the
commando
stranded in
Birisi.
There was some
random
shooting in
town and
heading
towards Uze
again. One
prominent
civil servant
has been shot
dead and his
driver.
All the youth
and
communities in
Yambio have
raised arms in
any form to
fight.

"The clashes
began around 5
o’clock
Thursday
morning,
according to a
source.
Gunfire has
continued on
and off until
now, sources
said.
Casualties
were reported
though there
are no
concrete
figures yet.

"Yambio market
is reportedly
empty with
civilians
seeking
shelter in
their homes or
near the
United Nations
base in the
town, a source
said. That
source said
some people
are afraid to
reach the UN
base because
shooting has
been heard in
the area of
the
base.
The fighting
took place
mainly on the
southern side
of the town
near the
prison,
according to
sources. That
area is near a
frontline
between the
government-controlled
Yambio town
and Gangura
Payam which is
held by the
South Sudan
National
Liberation
Movement.

"The SSNLM is
a militia led
by ex-SPLA
commanders
from Western
Equatoria. The
SSNLM signed a
preliminary
peace
agreement with
the government
in November,
but the deal
has yet to be
finalized.
Time for war."

So the UN
knows this -
but what do
they say?
Inner City
Press obtained
and on January
21 published
this:

"On 19 January
2016 at about
21:22hrs in
Juba, an
UNMISS
integrated
patrol team
was conducting
operations
when they were
stopped by an
SPLA vehicle
containing
eleven (11)
armed
soldiers.
The SPLA
soldiers
cordoned the
convoy at
gunpoint
denying them
permission to
continue the
patrol. After
ten minutes of
negotiation
another three
(3) SPLA
vehicles
arrived at the
scene with
about 30 armed
soldiers.
After 30
minutes the
SPLA agreed to
allow the UN
patrol to
return to UN
House compound
in convoy
escorted by
six (6) SPLA
vehicles with
about sixty
(60) armed
SPLA soldiers.
During the
negotiation
SPLA soldiers
reportedly
advised that
UNMISS should
stop
conducting
night patrols
without SPLA
clearance
otherwise
there will be
a
consequences."

So one
side in South
Sudan's civil
war - in this
case, Paul
Malong's -
orders the UN
to stop
patrolling at
night, so it
can do what it
will. And the
UN says
nothing --
even when
asked.

Inner City
Press: On
South Sudan, I
wanted to ask
you to confirm
that UNMISS
(United
Nations
Mission in
South Sudan) —
yesterday in
Juba an UNMISS
patrol was
stopped by
several dozen
SPLA (Sudan
People’s
Liberation
Army) military
people and
I've seen a UN
document that
says that the
SPLA told
UNMISS to stop
conducting
night patrols
without SPLA
clearance;
otherwise,
there will be
consequences.
Given the
debate on the
protection of
civilians,
will you
confirm that
this took
place and what
is the UN's
response to
the SPLA's
request?

Deputy
Spokesman:
No, I don't
have any
confirmation
of that.
If we have any
details from
UNMISS down
the line we
will share
that but, no,
I don't.

Inner
City Press
said, quite
audibly, It's
an UNMISS
documents, but
the UN did not
transcribe it.

Inner City
Press: South
Sudan, we've
been back and
forth about
these
situation
reports, and I
want… one, I
wanted to ask
you whether
you have
anything in
your binder
about fighting
near a place
called
Diabio.
But I also
wanted to ask
you, I've now
heard that the
situation
reports will
no longer be
distributed
electronically
and, more
troublingly,
that local UN
staff are not
supposed to be
told the
contents of
the
reports.
I'd like you
to check that…
[cross talk] …
given… given…

Spokesman:
Obviously, you
know, there
are different
types of
reports.
There are
those done by
the
peacekeeping
mission which
I give to you.

Inner City
Press:
UNDSS
(Department of
Safety and
Security).

Spokesman:
There are
others done,
like you said,
by DSS.
These are the
ones you seem
to have
unlimited
access to,
which is, I
guess, good
for you.
The point is
DSS is
entrusted to
keeping our
staff safe,
and I trust
them to share
the
information
they need to
share to
ensure that
all staff,
whether
national or
international,
have the
information
they need to
be able to
stay safe.

"On 29
December 2015
at about 06:50
hrs, in Pibor
(GPAA)
sporadic
gunfire was
heard at
about 600
meters north
of the UNMISS
Pibor
compound. At
about 10:43
hrs, about
15-20 armed
SPLA soldiers
positioned
themselves
outside the
UNMISS Pibor
perimeter on
the Northern
side of the
old PoC. No
hostile
actions have
been reported
at this time.
INDBATT
Protection
Force is
monitoring and
on high alert.
All staff
members have
been accounted
for and are
inside the UN
compound."

(The Sit
Rep also
recounts the
UN Mission's
UNexplained
confiscation
of "homemade
alcohol"
including from
"an SPLA."

Back on
December 9,
the day after
the UN
belatedly
confirmed
ceasefire
violations in
South Sudan,
only after
Inner City
Press
published
proof of the
UN's knowledge
and asked
about it, then
the UN
Peacekeeping
mission in the
country
shifted to
either
intentionally
mis-reporting
government
actions in
Yambio, or
showing
ineptitude in
its response.

Again
receiving
leaked UNMISS
Situation
Reports, Inner
City Press
found this
paragraph:

"On 7 December
2015 around
20:00 hrs,
heavy exchange
of gunshots
occurred in
the area of
Hai Kuba,
Ikpiro in
Yambio in
Western
Equatoria
State. The
shooting
lasted
approximately
twenty to
thirty
minutes.
Reportedly,
the shooting
started when
the local
authorities
attempted to
arrest three
(3) local
youths
suspects."

But Inner City
Press' sources
said the
arrests were
political, of
former Yambio
Commissioner
Angelo Bakote
and 3 young
men. So on
December 9
Inner City
Press asked,
of protection,
transcript
here. Back
on December 8
Inner City
Press asked, video here, transcript
here.

For weeks amid
fighting in
South Sudan,
Inner City
Press has
asked the UN
why it refuses
to report even
what it knows.
Even as Inner
City Press has
obtained,
asked about
and published
emails showing
the UN's
knowledge of
fighting, the
UN
spokesperson
has repeated,
Ask UNMISS.

Inner City
Press asked
why UN
Peacekeeping,
led by Herve
Ladsous, does
not report on
fighting of
which it is
aware, and how
“no UN
interest is
involved” is
consistent
with the UN's
protection of
civilians
mandate or
claims.

Dujarric
wouldn't even
attempt an
answer to this
policy
question
(which Ladsous
refuses, like
other Press
questions, to
answer).
Dujarric
repeated, as
if it were an
answer, that
he has not
seen the
email.

"Info received
indicate that
on 01 Dec 2015
at about 05:00
hours (LT)
fighting
erupted
between SPLA
and SPLA/IO at
FIRKA and
BUSERE (20 km
South of Wau
town). The
fighting
subsided
around 10:00
hours.
Military
pickups and
ambulances
were observed
transporting
casualties
along the
airport road
at high speed
towards the
military
barracks. SPLA
soldiers in
the town were
seen to be on
high alert and
on stand by
mode.

"Comments:
Reportedly the
SPLA/IO group
attacked SPLA
at the
affected area.
When SPLA
soldiers were
sent to
reinforce
their
colleagues
they were also
ambushed by
the rebels
leading to
further
casualties on
the part of
SPLA.

"Fighting is
still ongoing
as of 02 Dec
2015.

"No UN
interest is
involved at
this time."

Again, why
doesn't
Ladsous' DPKO
report this,
and how is
this “no UN
interest is
involved at
this time”
consistent
with the UN's
protection of
civilians
mandate or
claims? We'll
have more on
this.

"On 28
November 2015
at around
22:45 hrs, in
Yambio town
near Tourist
Hotel along
the main road,
a UN Agency
national staff
member was
reportedly
involved in a
traffic
accident. UN
Security
responded to
the scene of
the incident
and found
another
civilian
vehicle turned
over with the
driver
apparently
dead inside
the vehicle
whilst the UN
agency staff
member
sustained
visible
injuries in
his head. The
local police
on the spot
attempted to
arrest the UN
staff member
involved in
the accident,
however,
after
negotiation UN
Security
transported
him to UN
clinic for the
medical
treatment."

Can you
say, impunity?

From September
29, 2015: An
internal UN
document
leaked to
Inner City
Press, which
is exclusively
publishing it
today,
shows the high
degree of
dysfunction in
the country,
and in the UN.

Within South
Sudan the
inextricable
link with the
Government’s
political
party SPLM
with the SPLA
military has
exacerbated
the crisis and
this bond is
also a
potential
stumbling
block to
finding a
peaceful
solution in
the future.
Currently the
Government
cannot
adequately
protect its
population or
institutions
and therefore
by extension
is also unable
to provide
adequate
protection to
UN personnel
or assets. The
fragmentation
of the
military from
the beginning
of the crisis,
the misuse of
national
security
agencies and
the economic
status
resulting from
the collapse
of state
structure and
drop in
income, has
led to further
political
instability.

This
assessment
defines that
the UN is not
a primary
target for
direct
violence.
However, this
situation
could change
if the
economic
situation
declines
further, the
military armed
conflict
continues and
tensions rise
within PoC
sites.

Currently
there is no
mainstreaming
of Security
within the
planning of UN
activities/
programmes.
Therefore, the
policy that
defines that
security needs
to be involved
at all levels
of management
to ensure
security is
considered/
mainstreamed
into all
activities or
programmes is
not applied,
specifically
in UNMISS.

The high
prevalence of
alcohol and
illicit drug
use within the
PoC sites has
exacerbated
violence and
criminal
behaviour
directly
impacting upon
UN and AFP
personnel
working or
living within
or adjacent to
the PoC sites.
The smuggling
of weapons
into the PoCs
poses a
potential
Direct Threat
to UNMISS and
AFP staff.

Continued
accusations by
government
actors or
affiliates
that the PoC
sites are
sanctuary for
supporters of
the SPLA in
Opposition
also make the
PoC sites a
target; this
point was
actively
demonstrated
in the attack
in the Bor in
April 2014
resulting in
the death of
55 IDPs within
the UNMISS
site.

Prior to
December 2013,
the UN was
well regarded
by the South
Sudanese for
its role in
the drive
towards
independence
from Sudan,
for its
humanitarian
interventions
and for
efforts to
protect
civilians. But
the ongoing
crisis in
South Sudan
has also
negatively
impacted on
sentiments and
threats
directed to UN
personnel in
the course of
their work,
for example
IDPs insisting
that national
staff not from
their
preferred
ethnic group
are removed
from programme
activities in
POC sites and
some Ugandan
UNPOL having
to wear
civilia
clothes and be
removed from
POC duty due
to active UPDF
military
support for
the
Government of
South Sudan.

In March 2014,
a labelling
error was
discovered
whilst
transporting
containers
loaded with
duty equipment
for the UN
Ghanaian
peacekeepers
in Unity State
which
brought
strained
relations to
even a lower
point. The
error was
exploited to
galvanise
hostility
towards the UN
in favour of
the government
by falsely
presenting the
UN as
supplying
weaponry to
the
opposition. It
took elaborate
interventions,
investigations
and
communications
to clear the
false
impression
that this
created.

On 26 August
2014 under
suspicious
circumstances
a UN
contracted
helicopter
crashed near
Bentiu in
Unity State,
killing three
(3) aircrew
and injuring
one (1) other,
underlining
the threats
involved in
working within
South Sudan.
Investigations
into the cause
of the crash
were
inconclusive.

There have
been
increasing
reports of
criminal acts
occurring
within the
Protection Of
Civilian (POC)
sites; also
there have
been a number
of serious
assaults
against the UN
and other
humanitarian
workers,
sometimes
involving
weapons which
has resulted a
few times of
hospitalisation
of personnel.
These
incidents
have, and
continue to
affect not
only the
civilians
seeking refuge
at UN sites,
but also the
‘safety and
security’ of
individual
UNMISS and
Agencies Funds
and Programmes
(AFP)
personnel.

"In February
2015 there was
an alleged
sexual assault
of a Canadian
INGO by a
subcontractor
for a UN
Agency in
UNMISS Bentiu
team site."

As the
fighting also
continues at a
pace within
Sudan on two
fronts –
Darfur and
Nuba Mountains
(South
Kordofan in
particular)
the impact for
the whole
border region
cannot be
ignored. Sudan
Armed Forces
(SAF) are also
carrying out
aerial bombing
campaigns in
the Nuba
Mountains but
also extending
into South
Sudan in
November 2014
to hit alleged
JEM targets in
Raja, Western
Bahr el Ghazal
which killed
24 people
including
women and
children.

South Sudan
lacks an
adequate air
traffic
control
system,
countrywide.
The government
took control
of the
country’s
airspace from
Sudan in 2011,
but to date
has not issued
any “Notice to
Airmen”
(NOTAMs.).
There are
areas,
however, that
the government
has declared a
“no fly zone”
(i.e. over the
Presidential
Palace in
Juba),
suggesting
that the
government
reserve the
right to fire
upon an
aircraft that
violates this
airspace.

The SPLA-io
has reportedly
mined the
roads to the
north of
Bentiu
resulting in
several
incidents of
vehicles being
destroyed and
civilian
casualties.
This is of
particular
concern to the
UN as these
routes are a
vital corridor
in delivering
humanitarian
aid.

The existing
EU sanctions
delivered in
July 2014 had
little impact
on the
deescalatingof the
crisis."